Ashley’s 10 Tips for Applying to Graduate School

By Ashley Gevaart-Durkin

Applying to graduate can be daunting, as it should be. It’s a major life decision that goes beyond “just going to college” and really defines one’s career path. Although the process can be stressful, I found that a few strategies made the whole application experience much simpler and more bearable.

10. Start early. Really early. The most time consuming part for me was writing multiple Statement of Purposes. I really hadn’t spent enough time researching all the different schools I could potentially apply to, so by the time I actually figured that out (which takes a considerable amount of time), I found myself a little closer to deadlines than I had hoped. Then having to write at least five different statements, I was really pressed for time. Bottom line is, it’s going to take longer than you think, so plan accordingly.

9. Make a checklist or spreadsheet to keep track of everything. If you’re applying to more than one school, it can quickly become difficult to keep track of everything. Some schools want you to submit things online, others want three recommendations instead of two, and most of them will have different deadlines.Trying to keep track of all this information in your head is overwhelming. I’d suggestmaking a spreadsheet or keeping a notebook of all the information.

8. Take advantage of your available resources. My applications asked for anupdated resume or CV and I was feeling a little less than confident about the one saved on my computer. So, I called my college’s career center and asked them for help. Alumni at my school have life-long privileges to their services so I made sure toget my resume approved by those who knew best. I also had former professors look over my Statement of Purpose to make sure I was on the right track.

7. Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for letters of recommendation…. This for me was one of the most stressful parts of the application process, largely because I had to rely on other people to get things turned in on time. Be sure to give your recommenders at least one month to submit your letters. Email them before hand toask if they are willing to write you a strong letter and if they are, provide them with some information about the program and some of your strengths you’d like them to highlight. After they’ve submitted all the letters you’ve asked for, be sure to send them a thank you card!

6….or to submit your test scores. Most graduate programs will require you totake some sort of standardized test whether it’s the GRE, the MCAT, or some other acronym. When ordering these test scores online, the time it takes for them to arrive at the school can really vary and there’s no clear way to track them. The last thing you want to worry about is if your application is missing something as simple as your test scores, so be sure to send those out early as well.

5. Save up. Applying to graduate school is expensive. Application fees can range from $55-$125 each and that doesn’t include paying to send transcripts or test scores. Set aside some cash or be prepared to rack up a serious credit card bill.

4. Make sure you fill out the FAFSA before April 1. Even if you are applying forprograms that are funded or you have money saved up for your tuition, I think it’s always a good idea to apply for financial aid. You never know what scholarshipsor grants you might qualify for and if you end up having to pay less money, that’s awesome! It’s free to fill out and only requires some basic tax info. Here’s a link tothe form: www.fafsa.ed.gov\.

3. Make connections with professors in the program you’re applying for. A lot of the time, graduate schools admit people based on how many professors are looking for new research assistants or people to work with them and they’re likely to sit on the admissions committee. Take the time to do some research into theprogram and learn about the professors. Email one or two of them and introduceyourself as an applicant and talk about why you want to go there. Worst-casescenario is they won’t email you back, but you could potentially make a really great impression and get a leg up over other applicants.

2. Proofread EVERYTHING. I probably looked over each application three or four times before I submitted them because I was so nervous about having glaring mistakes—I at least wanted a fair shot and wasn’t going to let a typo ruin my chances. But, unfortunately, a lot of people don’t do this and it doesn’t look good. Make sure you proofread and check every part of your application--it might even beworth it to have a friend look over all your written components just to double check.

1. Relax and try not to think about it. It’s really tough not to sit and worry aboutwhether you’ll get in after you’ve submitted everything. It’s a pretty anticlimactic moment after you submit everything since you might not hear anything for awhile.Try to just let it slip your mind because really, there’s not much you can do but wait.In the meantime, celebrate your completed applications!